The Cleveland Cavaliers reportedly are preparing a "huge offer" sheet for restricted free agent Gordon Hayward. The team also reportedly is still interested in signing LeBron James away from the Miami Heat in free agency, though the chances of that happening appear moot.
Cleveland is looking to turn around things in a hurry. The Cavaliers used the No. 1 pick of the NBA draft to select Andrew Wiggins, and they locked down star Kyrie Irving for the next six years thanks to a $90 million extension. Their next move, according to ESPN, is to sign sharpshooting forward Hayward.
"The Cleveland Cavaliers are hosting restricted free agent forward Gordon Hayward for a visit Wednesday and are preparing a huge offer sheet to try to pry him away from the Utah Jazz," ESPN's Brian Windhorst wrote on Wednesday. "... The Cavs, who have the ability to clear as much as $20 million in salary-cap space, are believed to be willing to start a deal at the maximum contract number of about $15 million per season."
Hayward averaged 16.2 points, 5.2 assists and 5.1 rebounds per game last season.
While Cleveland's offseason moves indicate otherwise, at least one report indicated they are still hopeful about signing James.
"(The Cavaliers) have been preparing for months, even years, for this moment," Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal wrote on Monday of James's free agency. "They know any team that gets in front of him will lay out a plan of how they'll win with him, how they'll surround him with top talent and how they can win titles together.
"But the Cavs privately feel they can separate themselves in two key areas: This area is still home to (James), and Dan Gilbert is willing to cut any check necessary to help the team win."
James, though, appears likely to re-sign in Miami. Reports indicate the four-time MVP is giving Heat president Pat Riley time to improve the roster before making any decision in free agency.
